nature

The demand for a review of the Nature Directives is often justified in the name of
business. However, it is only a small coterie of businesses that would benefit from a
change in the law. For most, the baseline protection provided by the Directives and the
consistency they give across the EU is a clear business benefit. In fact, more economic
value would be gained by delivering full implementation and adherence to the Directives
as they stand.
Business needs nature
Changing the Nature Directives would be to the detriment
of those economic sectors that rely directly on a thriving
natural environment. In Europe, around 4.4 million jobs
and €405 billion in annual turnover are directly dependent
on healthy ecosystems.
Visitors to Natura 2000 sites contribute €50–85 billion
to local economies every year. The total expenditure
from tourism and recreation supports 4.5–8 million jobs
across the EU, out of a total of about 13 million jobs in the
tourism sector.
However, it is not only the obvious businesses like
outdoor enterprises and agriculture that rely on nature.
All economic activity ultimately relies on the natural
environment, and sustained economic growth will depend
on good management of our natural world. A national
natural capital debt is already accruing to the detriment
of our economy and wellbeing. xviii
A similar economic picture applies worldwide. The
European Commission estimates the cost of not
implementing environmental legislation and not meeting
biodiversity targets to be €50 billion each year. The loss
of biodiversity and ecosystem services between the
years 2000 and 2050 could be equivalent to 7% of the
2050 world GDP annually and 35% of jobs in developing
countries. A total of 7% of jobs in the EU are dependent
on ecosystem services. Conserving 20–30 % of global
oceans through Marine Protected Areas could create a
million jobs, sustain fish catch worth US$70–80 billion per
year and provide ecosystem services with a gross value of
roughly US $4.5–6.7 trillion per year. xix
Changing business behaviour
Of course, the Nature Directives have led to some
changes in business practice – improving the way we
interact with our natural world is exactly what they are
designed to do. In some cases, this has increased the
costs associated with particular activities, but overall the
Directives have improved the long-term sustainability of
our economy without affecting profits.
In its engagement with business, the RSPB has noted
a change in the pattern of behaviour as industries learn
how to work with the laws (see The RSPB and wind
farm cases, opposite page). The early phase can be
characterised by difficult discussions and often the
RSPB objecting to specific proposals. However, this is
quickly followed by greater understanding and smoother
outcomes, as better spatial planning, location or design
leads to the integration of natural environment objectives
within business planning. Familiarity with the Directives
facilitates constructive results, especially where a whole
sector, such as ports, is operating largely within
protected areas.
Overall, the Directives have little impact on business.
The amount of land protected is small, the proportion
of planning applications affected is very small, and the
proportion where significant change or compensation is
required is smaller still. Compared to other EU countries,
the UK has designated the least land as Natura 2000 (just
7.2%). Of the 26,500 land use consultations it receives
a year, less than 0.5% result in an objection by Natural
England under the Habitats Regulations, which transpose
the Nature Directives into UK law.
Where problems do arise, it is often because of a lack of
expertise within government authorities, or developers’
failure to engage early enough. This can result in delays,
expense and ineffective measures and may give the false
impression that conservation is a costly and arduous
process. This is exacerbated by a lack of post-construction
monitoring, which could otherwise help to avoid problems
in future.
Businesses that do not plan effectively, or those that seek
to evade or subvert conservation legislation, are rightly
challenged. However, businesses that have engaged with
the Directives have found them no barrier to commercial
activity, and some businesses have even gone so far as to
make conservation a core element of their operations.
Fairness and consistency
The Directives also offer businesses consistency across
28 different jurisdictions, helping to create a “level playing
field” across the Single Market. xx This has helped save
resources compared to a situation in which they would
have had to comply with different nature protection
regimes in the different Member States. xxi
Standards are important as they play a role in preventing
environmental damage taking place in one sector (for
example agriculture) which, by damaging the natural
environment, will have a negative impact on another
sector (such as tourism).
Changes to the Directives, such as amending the species
and habitats listed for protection, would lead to
considerable uncertainty for business over whether the
Natura 2000 network of sites would change, by how
much, and where, at a time when business is already
under economic pressure.
There is currently no scientific process for reviewing
the annexes, and no methodology for identifying which
species are dependent on conservation measures, and at
risk of declining if they were de-listed. While some species
and habitats can recover within a few years, for others,
decades or even centuries might be needed to recover
from past damage. For example, the rate of recovery of
peatlands from burning may be up to 500 years. At the
moment, it is clear that the Directives are benefiting a
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